Today's Topic: Nittany Lions should be off-limits

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Thanks to his penchant for keeping the offensive pedal to the metal, even in games clearly headed for Wisconsin's "W" column,  Badgers coach Bret Bielema hasn't been easy to like for many non-Cheeseheads.

But Bielema deserves some respect today for saying he has no plans to recruit Penn State players, whom the NCAA said can transfer and play immediately in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Northwestern's Pat Fizgerald and Indiana's Kevin Wilson -- two coaches who undoubtedly could benefit from catching a Nittany Lion or two -- agreed with Bielema and said they will not try and raid Un-Happy Valley.

But this position should not be limited to those in the Big Ten. All coaches should stay at home and refuse to blitz Penn State.

If the cleat were on the other foot, they certainly wouldn't like new Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien coming after their players.

A Penn State player who initiates contact with another school obviously wants to explore his options. Fine. Coaches should answer such a call.

But opposing coaches treating the Nittany Lions like free agents just isn't right.

Of course, it has been a long time since doing the right thing was of the utmost importance in college football. Even that usually takes a back seat to winning.

Today's topics: Kidd, Paterno

Jason Kidd arrested for DWI


Knicks guard Jason Kidd ended what reportedly was a wild evening by smashing his Escalade into a telephone pole early Sunday morning.


Since the pole had position, Kidd earned a charge: DWI.


Perhaps teams that sign players to lucrative contracts should request the player hand over his driver's license until the contract expires. (Not that that would stop all of them from driving, but it couldn't hurt.)


DUI/DWI obviously is not restricted to the rich and famous. But unlike the average person, paying a personal driver or getting a limo for the night is like you or me paying to ride the bus or subway.


Many athletes/celebrities constantly told how special they are start to believe it. Some even think they're invincible to the outside world.


Ask Jim Leyritz or Donte Stallworth if they were invincible.


Joe Paterno's family order own review of Freeh report


Note to the Paterno family: Let it go.


Anything associated with the family will be looked upon, at best, with skepticism. At worst, as a desperate attempt to restore JoePa's image.


Unfortunately for them, there's nothing to erase the coach's role in the Sandusky story.


Joe Paterno, like all of us, should not be defined by one moment/incident in his life. He was a great coach who did many great things throughout his life.


But good deeds don't earn us Mulligans -- especially in a storyline that ruined the lives of victims, scarred a great university and further proved that few things in life are what they seem to be.